Means for imposing electric and magnetic fields on flowing fluids



0c 1967 SABURO MIYATA 3,349,354 MEANS FOR IMPOSING ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ON FLOWING FLUIDS Filed June 2, 1965 FIG. L. 35 33' 31 30 28 29 I INVENTOR.

SABURO MIYATA 1 122 120 By United States Patent l 3,349,354 MEANS FOR IMPOSING ELECTRIC AND MAG- NETIC FIELDS 0N FLOWING FLUIDS Saburo Miyata, Yokohama, Japan (58 Shimo Takauawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan) Filed June 2, 1965, Ser. No. 460,672 Claims. (Cl. 335-209) This invention relates to a magnetic device for treating hydrocarbon fuel, and more particularly to a means treating a fuel flowing through said means and subjecting the fuel to the combined effect of a magnetic field and an electric field.

An object of this invention is the provision of a means for treating hydrocarbon fuel having a passage for the fuel, and having means to subject the fuel in said passage to a powerful, substantially unipolar magnetic flux.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means having a longitudinally extending tubular passageway formed therein, surrounded by magnet means, such magnet means being magnetized on an axis substantially normal to the passageway.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of means of the type just described wherein the axis of magnetism of the magnet means is directed toward the longitudinal axis of the tubular passageway.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means of the type described that is substantially cylindrical, and having a tubular passageway formed in its axis, and having a non-magnetic casing with a plurality of magnets arranged circumferentially about the passageway, each being magnetized on an axis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the treating means.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of means of the type described wherein the magnets are arranged with like poles facing the longitudinal axis of the treating means.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of means of the type described having means to subject the fuel to the influence of an which establishes an electric field during passage through the treating means.

The above and other objects will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, which together form a complete disclosure of my invention.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference pertain to like parts throughout the several figures:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section through the treating means, taken on the line 1-1, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of unipolar magnet assembly; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified form using annular magnets to give substantially a unipolar effect in the axis.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the numeral indicates generally a form of the treating means of this invention, which comprises a cylindrical housing 11, an inlet fitting 12 and an outlet fitting 13. The inlet fitting or end bell 12 is provided with an interiorly thread stub 13, adapted to be connected to a line supply fluid to be treated. The fitting 12 is provided also with a threaded opening 14 adapted to receive a threaded plug 15 preferably formed of suitable plastic material, as for example nylon or Teflon. The fitting 12 is threaded as at 16 to be secured to corresponding threads on the end of the cylinder 11. A flange 17 on the interior of the fitting 12 acts as a stop by abutting against the end of the cylinder 11.

Within the cylinder 12, a porous or foraminous filter such as a metallic screen 18 of non-magnetic material 3,349,354 Patented Oct. 24, 1967 rests on the flange 17. An annular gasket 19 of suitable resilient material such as rubber or synthetic rubber is placed over the screen 18. A magnet assembly rests on the gasket 19.

The magnet assembly includes the tube 20 of mild steel having a polygonal cross section with a cylindrical axial bore 21. About the tube 20 is placed a plurality of poly onal magnets 22. As shown, the tube 20 is square, and the magnets 22 are square, although it is Within the purview of this invention to make them in other shapes. The essential feature is that they are magnetized on axes substantially normal to the axis of the tube 20 and that like poles face the axis of the tube 20. In order that the magnets 22 may produce powerful flux along the axis of the tube 20, they are preferably formed of a sintered ferrite, such as barium ferrite. This ferrite has the property of forming powerful magnets, and is capable of being so magnetized that the magnetic axis can be in any desired direction. The magent assembly also includes the bottom washer 23 which rests on the gasket 19. Above the magents 22 is another washer 24, which acts as a cover plate. On this washer 24 there is a gasket 25, and over this there is a porous or foraminous filter such as a metallic screen 26, of non-magnetic material. This arrangement produces a magnetic treating means having but one active pole. In the northern hemisphere, it has been found that this device performs better if the pole is an N. pole. It is thus assumed that in the southern hemisphere an S. pole may be preferred.

The upper end of the cylinder 11 is threaded to receive the threaded end of the outlet bell or fitting 13. Within the fitting 13, there is an annular flange 27 which rests on the upper end of the cylinder 11 and on the peripheral edge of the screen 26. An outlet stub 28 is interiorly threaded to permit attachment to a line carrying the fluid to be treated. The fluid fiow is in the direc tion indicated by the arrows A and B. The upper end of the bell or fitting 13 is threaded as at 29 to receive a threaded plug 30, formed of suitable plastic, as for the plug 15. The plug 30 has an axial bore 31 to receive a threaded rod 32. The rod 32 is retained by means of a threaded washer 33 and a pair of lock nuts 34. The rod 32 is connected to the positive terminal of a suitable source of by means of the wire 35, and the re turn path is through the ground 36. The is preferably of low voltage, and the range of 6 v. to 12 v. has been found to be most desirable. The treating means 10 may be connected in the line supplying hydrocarbon fuel from a suitable tank to the fuel pump or other intake of an internal combustion motor. In its passage through the treating means the fuel is subjected to the combined effects of a very strong magnetic flux, and to the influence of an electric field.

In FIG. 4 I show a slightly modified form of treating magnet. The tube has a polygonal cross section, square as shown, and a plurality of polygonal magnet bars 122 are arranged about the tube 126 with like poles engaging the tube 120, which is preferably formed of mild steel. The magnets 122 are magnetized transversely to their axial dimension, and are preferably arranged with N. poles in engagement with the tube 120. Since it is quite difiicult to keep the magnets in position, I prefer to surround them with a suitable plastic material which may be self hardening or thermoplastic. Upon setting of the plastic material, the assembly is ready to be placed in a tube or housing similar to the tube 11.

In FIG. 5, I show a magnet assembly for producing a substantially unipolar magnetic field wherein annular magnets are used in lieu of the magnets 22. The device comprises a cylindrical casing 40 having an inlet tube 41 and an outlet tube 42; on the tubes 41 and 42 there are threaded identical end bells 43 and 44 respectively. The end bell 43 has an inlet fitting 45, and the end bell 44 has an outlet fitting 46. In the end of the end bell 43 there is a plug 47 which is threaded into the end bell 43, and has a polygonal head 48 adapted to receive a wrench. In a bore 49 in the plug 47 there is a threaded electrode 50, which has a suitable nut 51 for connection of a terminal 52 leading to one side of a source of E.M.F., such as the terminal 35 of FIG. 1.

The end bell 44 has a threaded opening 53 to receive a plug 54 of insulating material, like the plug 47. The electrode 55 has a nut 56 to clamp a terminal 57 to connect to the other side of the source of Within the housing 40 there is a filter or screen 58 having an end bafile 59. The magnetic treating device 60 within the screen 58 comprises a plurality of annular magnets 61, each axially magnetized. End pole pieces 62 having axial tublatures 63 are allochirally arranged adjacent the magnets 61. The inner diameters 64 of the magnets are slightly larger than the tublatures 63. An annular pole piece 65 is between a pair of magnets 61, and has an inner diameter greater than that of the magnets 61. A plastic tube 66 having a central enlarged portion 67 fills the space between the pole pieces 62 and has an inner diameter the same as that of the tublatures 63. The tube 66 and the tublatures form a passage for fluids being treated. The assembly of magnets and pole pieces is secured in plastic cups 67. One tublature 63 is preferably spaced from the baflle 59, and the other is in the tube 42, forming a fluid passage from the filter 58 to the outlet 46. The relatively great spacing of the pole piece 65 from the axis of the treating device, and the arrangement or like poles of the magnets 61 in engagement with this pole piece forces the flux path for this pole toward the outside of the treating device. The other magnet poles, being also alike are adjacent the pole pieces 62, and as these pole pieces approach the axis of the treating device, the pole in this case is very strong and a substantially unipolar flux is present in the axis of the device. Fluid flowing in the passage 68 is, therefore, subjected to a very strong substantially unipolar flux, and is at the same time influenced by the electric field between the electrodes 50 and 55.

There is as yet no precise information on the exact effect of the two forces acting on the fluid. However, tests heretofore made have demonstrated that there are beneficial results. In Patent No. 3,059,910, issued Oct. 22,

1962, a report of test made by an independent testing laboratory was introduced as showing that improved performance was noted, carbon accumulation is reduced to almost zero, and low octane fuel used in a high compression motor acts as though it has a higher octane value. It fires without a customary compression knock.

Having now described my invention in a preferred form, I desire it to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for treating hydrocarbon fuel comprising a hollow casing of non-magnetic material having greater length than cross section, said casing having an inlet and an outlet for the fuel, an axial passage formed in said casing, magnet means arranged circumferentially of fluid passage, said magnet means creating a high magnetic flux along the axis of the casing, said magnet means comprising a plurality of axially extending discrete magnets arranged about said axial passage and having their like poles oriented toward said axis.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 including means to subject the fuel to the influence of an electric field.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 including porous filtering means in said casing.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the casing is cylindrical, and wherein the fluid passage comprises a rod having an axial cylindrical bore therein and havinga polygonal cross section.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein the rod is square, and is formed of ferro magnetic material and wherein the magnets are prisms having each a square cross section and wherein the said magnets are magnetized along axes normal to their longitudinal axes and wherein the like poles of said magnets face the rod, said rod thereby'becoming a common pole piece for said magnets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,652,925 9/ 1953 Vermeiren 210-222 2,956,193 10/1960 De Wit 313-84 3,059,910 10/ 1962 Moriya.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

H. A. LEWITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR TREATING HYDROCARBON FUEL COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING OF NON-MAGNETIC MATERIAL HAVING GREATER LENGTH THAN CROSS SECTION, SAID CASING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET FOR THE FUEL, AN AXIAL PASSAGE FORMED IN SAID CASING, MAGNET MEANS ARRANGED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OF FLUID PASSAGE, SAID MAGNET MEANS CREATING A HIGH MAGNETIC FLUX ALONG THE AXIS OF THE CASING, SAID MAGNET MEANS COM- 